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Reflective Synopsis

noreply@blogger.com (leethal) — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 19:21:00 -0700

Assessment item 1—Professional Blog
Reflective Synopsis

‘We need to post great content on the Internet. We need to find more efficient ways of classifying and linking content. We need to train youngsters to use the Internet responsibly, and we need to think hard about how to avoid exposing them to damaging on-line material’. (Gates, 2000)
Gates high lights very relevant educational issues in that statement such as appropriate content, linking and making connections and legal and ethical aspects, all of which will be discussed in this assessment piece.

E-learning, due to modern technology, is able to take place in any setting that has access to some form of computer (even mobile phones) and an internet connection. Varying types of e-learning include distance education, workforce development, virtual classrooms and differing modes of higher education learning use such as in class web and flexible delivery. E-learning incorporates the use of many different web tools, and the beauty of it is they are all just a click away. As Learning Managers we need to be planning for the future and that future is, the next generation. Generation z, the net generation or also called by Gates (2000) ‘Generation I’ (Internet). Ever passing second student now and future are moving closer to becoming reliant on the internet and technology, not just for entertainment and communication but also for schooling.

There will inevitably be a shift in how classrooms will function; therefore we as Learning Managers will have to become up to date. Student’s learning experiences will have to designed in such a way to accommodate the use of online interactive activities, and then be scaffolded within that frame work (Oliver, 1999). We need to know what tools we’re going to be working with and how to operate them. The shift will focus a change in participation, user control, sharing, openness, and networking. The use of the web tools can be individualized and/or personalized, and we can interact individually or collectively with it. The particular tools which would be relevant for the teaching areas of HPE and ITD are highlighted in Appendix 1, that is, if they are deemed worthy by the school and will be discussed further in the next paragraph. The benefits which will assist students to further their knowledge individually and collectively include; creative involvement in web based activities, the ability to design and structure information in various ways, input and collaborate ideas in and out of school, a designated place to store and have access to their work, and their work is able to be accessed by the teacher any time for monitoring and feedback purposes.

The purpose of monitoring is not only to assess the students participation but to also the content which is being posted and uploaded on to their sites. If left unattended safe practice has been neglected and not only will parents be outraged, there are also legal implication s to consider. Safe practice and legislation need to be made aware of to students as these aspects govern internet participations. Issue to be aware of are as follows;
• copywriter laws (no more than ten percentage of content)
• Education Queensland policies on preferred place to work (the learning place)
• teacher liability to student confidentiality
• code of conduct on the internet, especially within web tools (harassment and bullying)
• the need for referencing and password protection due to third party information use
(Department of Education and Training, 2006)

Due to the continual change of technology and the changing perspectives of knowledge and information because of this evolving phenomenon, what is deemed right or appropriate today may be wrong and out of date tomorrow. E-learning provides the opportunities for students to pursue their own learning and construct meaning and make connections to real-life experiences. To facilitate continual learning connections need to be maintained and supported. This creation of knowledge is the students attempt to understand their learning experiences. (George Siemens, 2004)

Therefore the use of the internet through E-learning and its web tools is an authentic means of educating not only the students but also the teacher, through nurturing a collaborative learning environment. This enables students to acquire knowledge in a way that reflects real-world interaction, which inter harbours student interest and meaningful development in an increasing digital world.

References
Department of Education and Training. (2006) LGS-PR-001: Consent to use copyright material, image, recording or name. Retrieved 20 August 2009 from, The Department of Education and Training website: http://education.qld.gov.au/strategic/eppr/legal/lgspr001/

Gates. B. (2000) “Enter generation I”.p.1 of 1. Retrieved August 19 2009 from: http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/ofnote/03-00instructor.mspx

Oliver, R. (1999). Exploring strategies for on-line teaching and learning: Distance Education, 20(2), pp.240-254. Cited in Learning designs. no author. (2003) Retrieved August 20 2009 from: http://www.learningdesigns.uow.edu.au/project/learn_design.htm

Siemens. G. (2004) Connectivism: a learning theory for the digital age.pp.2&4 of 5. Retrieved August 20 2009 from: http://www.elearnspace.org/Articles/connectivism.htm

Appendix 1
Swot Analysis of Web Tools

Ning

noreply@blogger.com (leethal) — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 06:00:00 -0700

More sophisticated than a wiki, the uses of a Ning (great name)allow for more group interaction as an online learning community. It capabilities include blogs, forums, chat room, and video uploads. Friends are invited to your site and you have more control making it a little more exclusive. It also has a multiple selection of communication tools and a vast variety of sharing and collaborating space and means of interaction. If allowed to be used in a school this should be pass word protected, as there maybe 3rd party information on the site.
The functions on Ning provide opportunities for group analysis, debating and allowing ever one to be heard which is recorded and stored.

bubbl.us

noreply@blogger.com (leethal) — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 03:41:00 -0700

bubbl.us site allows the creation of a graphic organiser which can be used for mind mapping and any other application you can think of. Great for the student and the teacher. Another means of information delivery which can be very interactive.

The learning place

noreply@blogger.com (leethal) — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 02:21:00 -0700

This site i know to be of use not only for those teaching now, but also for those of us a uni. I found some great info for an assignment last term for managing diversity. At the time it was a fluke find and now that I have been formal shown it will most definitely show up in my reference page again. It's a big site so I wouldn't be surprised if you get lost :)

This photo is courtesy of Flickr, good site for storing and sharing photos, videos and finding images too.Flickr has it's own visual coded copywrit system which lets you know what you are able to do or take from that page on it's site. The copywrite laws are applicable to all internet use and basically only 10 percent of information on a site is allowed to be duplicated/used, and any thing broadcast or for the pulic has no limitation. That's my understanding so far...

iTunes

noreply@blogger.com (leethal) — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 03:45:00 -0700

As I can listen and learn more efficiently from somebody speeching, I can fully appreciate the use for iTunes as a learning device. Not only is it a music source but you can also download a podcast. This would be great for student application and also parents could listen to a podcast created by their child which may have been completed as an assignment. So that's a big advantage for all those avid listeners out there.

google map - uni

noreply@blogger.com (leethal) — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 22:19:00 -0700

View my uni in a larger map

my wordle

noreply@blogger.com (leethal) — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 05:10:00 -0700

www.wordle.net
I can use it, yeah.

?? understanding

noreply@blogger.com (leethal) — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 04:40:00 -0700

Now that I have created a Voki and finally got it onto my blog, I'm not sure of the use of it or the application in school. maybe not in the disciplines I have anyway. Will be interesting to read others views.

my voki creation

noreply@blogger.com (leethal) — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 04:35:00 -0700

photo shop trial (picnik)

noreply@blogger.com (leethal) — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 05:16:00 -0700

Abstract?

Picnik is a fun site which you could spend hours changing your mind over and over and over........

1st MovieMaker

noreply@blogger.com (leethal) — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 04:08:00 -0700

The use of movie maker will be great for students assessment delivery, to help break up the written delivery of tasks. It reminded me of PowerPoint, except with the capability of allowing for more creativity and the power to have really relevant images.

My feedburner

noreply@blogger.com (leethal) — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 22:54:00 -0700

Please come to my feedburner

noreply@blogger.com (leethal) — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 21:51:00 -0700

This is my first podcast link:

Linking the pieces

noreply@blogger.com (leethal) — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 03:39:00 -0700

This weeks electronic undertaking, required me to use 'information-processing constructivism' (McInerney & McInerney,2002,pp.4-5). Which meant I had to rely/recall on previous Internet communication experience and graft it with the new information I was being taught and participating in, and create new understanding and knowledge. This was in the form of creating a new wiki and increasing my prior knowledge of my learning styles.
I feel I am still yet to grasp the wiki concept and it's potential. As for my learning style, the way in which I best learn was no surprise, but the interesting point of that particular result was how in depth it highlighted other characteristics and personality strenghts. A good resources to use in the future.

McInerney. DM. & McInerney. V. (2002) Education psychology: constructing learning. (3rd ed.) pp.4-5. Pearson Education Australia, French Forest, NSW.

Humanmetrics results part 1

noreply@blogger.com (leethal) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 22:05:00 -0700

Your Type is ENFP
Extraverted
Intuitive
Feeling
Perceiving
Strength of the preferences %
33
62
50
11

You are:
moderately expressed extravert
distinctively expressed intuitive personality
moderately expressed feeling personality
slightly expressed perceiving personality

Reflection of learning style

noreply@blogger.com (leethal) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 21:40:00 -0700

Nothing suprising in reagards with the high percentagr of how I learn, very interesting in the areas in which I need to work on, with the diagram being a very effect tool to help identify those weaker learning styles. this could be very effective in class as the students and the teacher can understand how the student best learns.

noreply@blogger.com (leethal) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 21:33:00 -0700

Style Scores
Visual
13
Social
14
Physical
16
Aural
12
Verbal
7
Solitary
9
Logical

Style Scores
Visual
13
Social
14
Physical
16
Aural
12
Verbal
7
Solitary
9
Logical
8

New perception

noreply@blogger.com (leethal) — Wed, 8 Jul 2009 04:01:00 -0700

I am highly recommending the viewing/listening to Sir Ken Robinson's (2006) speech on creativity which is located here http://moodle.cqu.edu.au/mod/resource/view.php?id=580 . I was so impressed with his theories I watched it two times in a row and will most certainly view it again.
His views on the pathway of the education system on suppressing creativity are quite eye opening, I get a kick out of things ideas that make you go 'ha, why didn't I think of that or why didn't I see that'. I love his statement 'creativity is as important as literacy'. Not one for ever enjoying the core subjects at school but thriving in the arts and anything that was hands on I can strongly appreciate what he is trying to change our perception about.
This has led me to think about how blogs can be a great tool in the classroom in sharing creative ideas or even helping to change another students perception based on another thoughts and experiences.
Continually contemplating.......

Intro

noreply@blogger.com (leethal) — Mon, 6 Jul 2009 23:21:00 -0700

This is my first post and blog experience. Utilising these tools is very interesting and indepth. Should be fun.